Photoflash synchronizing device for cameras



April 13, w48- w. csTEDELLo 2,439,417

PHOTOFLASH SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE FOR CAMERAS Filed Aug. 6, 1946 FIG. l.v

33 23 4.7 Il a )4 4 INVENTOR.

F IG. 3. WLL/AMO/lsn-DE/ Lo .ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 13, 194g NT GFF ICE vPHO'.IOFL'ASHS SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE FOR. CAMERAS AWilliam"Casted'ello', Stamford; Conn.;V 'assgnor` .to

The Kalart Gompany Inc., Stamford',v Conn.

fApplicatomAngust 6, 19.4l6;l Serial1No.';68,8;-741

" This invention e relates .to.. as device.. for; .syn-

chronizing thel .operations tofv a photographicapparatus and. aliashlamp; andmoreffparticularly to synchronizing-y devices for.. tripping. a camera shutter andiiring a V1"lash..lamp...at a selected time relationship. with respectv toz-eachtother.

For best results in the use of photoflashwork,

.the operationof the fcamera;shutter,has to. be .properly timed. and. synchronizedwith the flash .of the .flash .lamp .soA .that the .flashdampis producingits peakilluminationlduring the ,time the shutteris substantially .fullylcpened IfA the-.firi-ng ofthe lamp and'thetrppng oirthecamera shutter were... not. properly.. timed,- unsatisfactory results are. obtained, as .p eakilluminaticnfoccurs either before or after VVthe shutterds :fully opened. In manybases', for instance.Whenmovingfcbjects the negative. `.S.uch 7considerable illuminationizof an. vobject can. .be .attained-only. `when peak. i1- luminationV andiullopening of .thefsh-utter -sub- .stantially coincide.

The periodici .time,..herein sometimesreferred 25 to .as shuttertimef .betweentripping of, afshutter andiullcpeningof theshuttenis asubstantially constant one for.. each -.given ,type .oflshutter,f as isi the period jof...time,-. hereinsometimes .referred to as lamptime between ring of` amashflamp and reaching -peak illumination for each .given ktype of iiash lamp.l .`However,f.the .lamptimevaries within a wide range for .differenttypes ,otf'zflash lamps, for .instanceso walled gaseousdischarge ylamps emplcyingmercury. and vother vaporsfwill reach vpeakillumination. practically, instantaneously. and develop. a flash. of..extreme brilliancy ...and Very.' shortY duration;.. aiiash. time .of. 17.6,0000

of a second has been claimed. Other iiashlamps or .bulbs require a lamp timeof about 2%000. of a second. As aresult.. a synchronizing device. adjusted for operation of. ashutter.inconjunction with a certain type oifash )lampr` willnot Tsynchronize correctly. .when a -type..oflamp; isv` used having a Adiffer.en1;.lam1:i time.

One jotthe objects of.-this..invention is: a novel .and .improved synchronizing device for. accurately able.

' Anothercbject fof .the invention is to...-pr0.vide.a novel and improved synchronizing device which permitsithe .use .of iiash lamps. having. diierent .lamp times-whi1e retaininga correct time relaltionship.y between shuttertime. and. .lamptime Anothenlobject ofthe inventionfis anovely and 5 improved ,synchronizingV device which 4can -beaccurately and conveniently adjusted kaccordingtc the specicilamptime ofF a flashlamp tosbe used. Anctherscbject of '.theinventionis a novel .and improved. synchronizing.. device :by .means `-of which,.,lthe light unit ;of aday .and night range lndenffiof' the 4 type Ydescribed in U.; S. Patent ,2,397,160fcanbe controlled.

fAncther..objectA ofthe invention is toprovide a novel and improved synchronizing device-Which is .reliablesfarids accurate. in. operation, yand `rcom- ..parativelyinexpensivefin manufacture.

Anothereobject of. thefinvention'is to. provide a. '-noveh and,V improved synchronizer which scan .be-convenientlyadisposed within-the .casing -of a photographic apparatusso astc Vforman integral partit-hereof.

Othergandwfurther. objects;l features.. 'and-A .ad- Avant-langesof theinvention will appear hereinafter fandi-inrthe..appended'claims lforming-..part vof the application.

.LezIn the/.accompanying drawings, a ncwfpreferred yembodiment ofs-theiinventionis.shown by way-cf illustration zand. not byr way'y ofi limitation.

:if-Eig;VV llshows diagrammatically a synchronizing 0idevice=-a'ccoxfding;to theinvention and thecircuit system thereof.

*Figi 2, shows aidetail-viewf oi the synchronizing 4devicerproperiinfitsfinactive lor* restposition,` `a-nd Fig'shows thelsynchronizing' device accord- -ing 1to=1iig 21-in an intermediate position.

Referring'now--tc--the' figures in detail,. the synchronizingdevicey-as shoWn'inFig. 1, is generally .'desig-riated-fl0,-andcomprises a shaped contact segment# i* which is vslida'bly engageable' lby van adjustable jcontact varm and two stationary ccn- `tact armsl3 and '14." 'There are 'further provided three, contactspringsl, [l and Il which are normallydisen'gaged with .eachother .but can be deflected into' engagement, as will be more v-fully explained hereinafter.

Adjustable .contact larm .l2 is connected` by. a .le.adlll8 to. one terminal of alash-lamp orbulb .I 9 of-any suitable design and characteristic. The other..terminal .of..this-flash. lamp is connected .by a.".,.le9d.-2lltononeterminal 2| of a sourceI of .currenti.22,.such.as a battery.. Stationary con- .ftactg-.arni is connected by a-lead V23'to contact `v.spring fl'l .andstationarycontactarm I4 is-con- 55 nected by a lead 24 to one terminal of a solenoid the other end to arm 5I) is biased to urge arm 5I)V into the position, as shown in Fig. 2.

In this connection it should be noted that instead of coil springs 41 and 55, any other suitable type of springs can be employed, such as spiral springs wound around pivots 46 and 5I respectively.

Arm 59` is supported with a slight axial clearance on pivot 5I so that it can tilt relative to the axis of the pivot, thereby permitting nose 49 to slide off arm 48 when arm 58 is rotated clockwise 16o to Hyman Schwartz and William Castcdeuc,V

the other terminal of light Vunit`3I being con-I and arm 48 counterclockwise (see Fig. 3) and to Lr'e-engagearm 48 when arms 59 and 48 are renected by leads 32 and 20 to battery terminal'l.

Finally contact spring I5 is connected by a lead 33 to the second terminal 34 of battery 22. Y

The circuit system, as shown in Fig. 1 and described inconnection therewith, 'comprises' one ash bulb or lamp I9. However, it should be noted that it is of course also possible and within the scope of the invention to control several :dash lamps or bulbs connected in parallel, by a single synchronizing device I6, as is well known in the art. It is further possible to include a booster battery in the circuit system if desired.

The synchronizing device I9 will now be described in detail:

As can best be seen on Figs. 2 and 3, the syn chronizing device comprises the previously mentioned contact segment II which has circumferential extensions II and II", the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. Segment II is supported on an insulation disc 35 which is rotatably mounted on a base 36 by means of a pivot 31.

I Contact arm I2 which coacts with contact segment II -is preferably made of springy metal to secure a good sliding contact between segment and contact arm. The contact arm is supported -on an insulation knob 38 and connected by any suitable means, for instance by an extension tongue I2' and a pig tail to lead I8. Knob 38 is mounted on a pivot 39 rotatably supported on base 36. Pivot 39 further supports a toothed sector 4U which is engaged by a pinion 4I...rotatable by means of a manually operable shaft 42.. .Shaft 42 may support a pointer coacting withV a scale calibrated to indicate the specific time characteristics of the flash bulb or lamp to be controlled. Such time adjustmentsare well known in the art and need not be described .here in detail. It should be noted in this connection that the invention shall not be limited to the` adjustment Aof arm I2 as illustrated herein, but that any other teeth of a toothed sector 45 pivotal'abouta pivot 46 fastened to base .36. A loaded spring 41 fasu tened at one end to base 36 and at the other end to sector 45 is biased to urge the sector and with it disc 35 into the position,as shown inFig. 2.

Sector 45 is provided with an extension arm 48,

the upper edge of which is slidably engaged A-by a nose 49 of an arm 50. Arm 59 is supported'by a pivot 5I rotatably mounted on base l36. A

spring fastened at one end to base 36 and at turned into the respective positions, as shown in Fig. 2, by the action of springs 55 and 41 respectively. f

Fastened to a bearing sleeve 59" of arm 50 is an extension 56 having two spaced holes 68 and 69. A flexible wire 65 is passed through hole 68 and fastened to a bead 16 having a diameter larger than hole 68. Bead 16 is attached directly or through an intermediate` link to one end of a loaded spring A151, the other end of which is secured at 59 to base 36. Similarly, a second wire 66, is passed through hole 69 and fastened to a bead 1I which in turn is secured to one end of a spring 51' the other end of which is fastened at 59' to base 36.

An extension of arm 59 or bearing sleeve 59 supports an insulation block 69 fastened thereto by screws 6I or any other suitable means and rounded o" at its lower end, as clearly shown on Figs. 2 and 3. Insulation block 69 serves to control the relative positions of contact springs I5, I6 and I1. These contact springs are so positioned that an extension I5 of contact spring I5 engages contact spring I1 and that contact spring I5 is disengaged from an extension I6 of contact spring I6 when insulation block 69 is disengaged from contact spring I5 (see Fig. 3). In the rest or inactive position of synchronizing device II), as shown in Fig. 2, insulation block 69 engages spring contact I5 just sufficiently to separate contact spring extension I5 from contact spring l1 without moving contact spring I5 into engagement with extension I6. lWhen and while insulation block 60 ismoved from the position of Fig. 2 into the position of Fig. 3 and vice versa, contact spring I5 is moved into engagement with extension I6' while spring contact I 1 and extension I 5 are held disengaged.

The contact springs I5, I 6 and I1 are supported by an insulation block 62 fastened by screws 63 or other suitable means to base 36.

Flexible wire 66, guided about a post 61 fastened to base 36, and wire 65 are operatively connected to release buttons at the left and right hand corner of the camera casing (not shown) for left and right hand operation of the synchronizing device.

VAs will be apparent, a pull on wire 65 due to operation of the release button will cause a clockwise rotationr of extension 56 against the action `-ofspring'51, bead 16 causing an expansion of the spring by abutting against extension 56. Spring 51 will not be loaded as wire 66 will slide through hole 69. When wire 66 is pulled, spring 51 is the one vwhich will be loaded as will be evident v.from theprevious explanation.

vThe release buttons are so arranged that an 'operation of either button will cause a rotation of extension 56 in clockwise direction, thereby pivoting insulation block 6I] from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the position of Fig. 3 and lbeyond thisA position. When the operated release aman? button is released, all partsor the synchronizing devicereturn int-o theI posi-tions, as shown` in` Fig.

2, by.I the action of the respective springs 411, 55 and 55|- or 5'Ii. As the operation of the release It is of" course also. possible to operate extension.

55 either directly or through a suitable linkage system.

The operation of the synchronizingv device, WillAV now. be described in detail.

Let. itbe` assumed. that it is desired to. make a iiash picture-and tha-ttor said purposethe shutter of. the camera is cocked inv ay conventionalr. manner. Letit. further beassumed that contact arm IfZ.- isplaced in the. position, as shown in Fig. 2, and tha-tsaid position correspondsy tol the electriccharacteristics of' the flash lamp to.be.used, that is, to the, time required. by the .lamp toreach. peak illumination. Let it. iinally be assumed that switchu in the` circuit of light unit3I: is closed. Aswill. appear from an. examination oi the circuit system. accord-ing' to, 1, all circuits. are interrupted so; that, the. electrical'. components. off the device remain inactive in spite of the closing of Switch. 3.0.5. When now either one of the release buttons. is operated, arm 5.0 with insulation block El),v is rotated` clockwise.. arm 48. with. sector 45. is rotated counterclockwise and disc 35.- with con.- tact segment I, I.; is .rotated-clockwise, as will appear from, the` previous description, While contact. segment IIy is; moved from the position of Fig. 2A

toward; the. positionof. Fig; 3,. contact. arms I2, I3 and,I,4;ar e simultaneously engagedby contact segmen-tv Il, thereby eilectine` an electric. connection between the Contact arms, However, such. electric connection remains ineffective, as insulation bloelgv 6o engages; contact spring. Iaandis holding the; same: ina. position. in which extension l' is dis-engaged, from contact, spring. I'I.- included in supply lead` 3.3,. Insulation block 6,0., during its aioremerltioned` clockwise rotation, moves. contact spring L5 into, engagement with. extension lif',V

thereby closing a; circuit.frombatteryterminal 3.4 through lead-` 3 3, conta-et; spring I5., exten-sion. I6',

contactspring; H5,v lead 29, closed switch 30, light. unit 3| ofthe day and night rangelinden leads.

32, and 2.0. to the other batteryftenninal- 2:I. As ar-esultA light unit 31|; will;` be illuminated during the rst partY of the release button movement,

thereby permitting the operator of. the. camera. to. focusthe camera lens by placingA the; light spotsproduced by the day andy nightrangender in aV predetermined relative position, to. each other;

When nowL the operation of therelease button is continued and insulation block 50 reaches the position of Fig. 3. in which the insulation blockisy disengaged from. spring contact spring I5, this contact.` spring returns'intoits position inv which, thelight unit circuit is interrupted; at extension I5 "v and extension. I5 re-engages contactu spring I`I.l Slightly prior thereto, contact segment I I hasreached the position of Fig. 3 in which contact arms I2, I3 and I4 are no longer engaged by contact segments II,

Asthe operation of the release button is further continued; nose 49, will slide off the edge of arm 48, thereby permitting spring41'to snap sector 45 into the position of Fig. 2. Toothed sector 45, duringsits return movement, will cause disc to rotate counterclockwise into the positionof Fig 2. During this return movement of contact segment II", itwilli engage contact arms I2; I 3 andj I 4' at In thisA connection it different times. According to the embodiment shown, contact arm I3 will rst engage segment extension II', then contact arm I4 will engage segment II after having passed the circumferential recessl between segment extensions II andI II, and finally contact arm I2 will engage segment extension I-I. Insulation block Se will remain disengagedfrom contact spring I5, thereby permitting an engagement between extension I5 and contract spring I'I until Contact arm I2 and segment II are in engagement with each other.

During the return movement of segment I I, and while insulation block 6I) permits an engagement between contact spring I'I and extension I5', a

'circuit is first closed for solenoid coil Z which contactarm I4, lead- 24, eoil- 25, leads 25 and 25' to battery terminal 2 I. Solenoid 25 now attracts its armature 21 so that shutter 25 is tripped.

When, dueto continued countercloclwise rotation of disc-35, segment I I engagesl contact arm I2, a second circuit is closed which may be traced from segment II- through contract arm I2, lead I8*y flash lamp IQand lead Eil to battery terminal 2l, thereby causing the flash lamp to be red.

The operation of the synchronizing device is f, now completed and springs 4l, 55 and 5l or 5? will return all parts of the device into the position, as shown in Fig. 2, when the operated button is released.

In the embodiment, as above described, the

f shutter is operated prior to the ash lamp, as is required when the time between tripping o the shutter and the full opening thereof is longer than thetime between-firing of the flash lamp and. peak illumination. The periodl of time that elapses between shutteroperation and ilash lamp ignition isa constant one provided the rotational speed of insulation block'GIl and disc 35 remain constant. Thelength of this'periodis'controlled, in addition to. the aforementioned rotational speed, by a The permanent. factor is.v determined by the configuration of. insulation block Bill and contact segment. IIg and. by the positions of stationary contactsprings- I5, I 6, Il and contact arms I3 and. I 4.v Thevariable :factor is controlled by the position, of. adjustable contactarm I2. As will be evident,V practically any desired time relationm ship between. shutter operation and flash. lamp ignition can be attained by suitable selection of the permanent factor during manufacturing and assembly of the device and by angular adjustment of contact arm I2 by means of shaft 42. The period of time between shutter operation and ash lampignition will be increased by turning Contact army I2 in a clockwise direction and reduced by placing contact arm I2 in a position closer toy segment extension II (as seen in the position of segment II in Fig. 3). When it is desired to voperate the liash lamp prior to the shutter, it is merely necessary to position the contact arms in such a manner that an electrical connectionbetweencontact arms I2 and I3 is made prior to anelectrical.connection between contact arms I3 and I4.

In thisl connection it should be noted that the illustrated configuration of contact segment I vI'is not essential for the invention and that any other coniiguration. may be employed by which a suitable staggered. engagement of the contact arms can be attained. Furthermore, the linkage it is intended therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A synchronizing device of the type described comprising a shaped contact member movably mounted, a contact arm for slidably engaging said contact member and connected in circuit with a flash lamp and a source of current, a second contact arm for slidably engaging said `contact member and connected in circuit with a shutter solenoid and the source of current, a third contact arm for slidably engaging said Contact member, a pair of yieldable contacts, one of said contacts electrically connected with the third contact arm, the second contact connected in circuit with the source of current, a movable element coacting with the yieldable contacts, said element constructed and positioned to control engagement between said yieldable contacts by the element position, and means for moving said contact member and said element at a predetermined ratio of movement for placing the contact member in engagement with the contact arms at a predetermined sequence and for opening and closing said yieldable contacts at preselected intervals, thereby causing the solenoid and the iiash lamp circuits to be energized at a predetermined time relationship to each other.

2. A synchronizing device of the type described comprising a shaped contact member movably mounted, an adjustable rst contact arm for slidably engaging said contact member and connected in circuit with a flash lamp and a source of current, a stationary second contact arm for slidably engaging said contact member and connected in circuit With a shutter solenoid and the source of current, a stationary third contact arm for slidably engaging said contact member, means for adjusting the position of said rst contact arm relative to the contact member and the stationary contact arms, a pair of yieldable contacts, one of said contacts electrically connected with the stationary third contact arm, the second contact connected in circuit with the source of current, a movable element coacting with the yieldable contacts, said element constructed and positioned to control engagement between said yieldable contacts by the element position, and means for moving said contact member and said element at a predetermined ratio of movement ior placing the contact member in engagement with the contact arms at a predetermined sequence and for opening and closing said yieldable contacts at preselected intervals, thereby causing the solenoid and the iiash lamp circuits to be energized at a predetermined time relationship to each other, as controlled by the position of 'the adjustable rst contact arm.

3. A synchronizing device of the type described comprising an insulation disc rotatably mounted, a shaped electrically conductive segment supported on said disc, an adjustable first contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment and connected in circuit with a flash lamp and a source of current, a stationary second contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment and connected in circuit with a shutter solenoid and the source of current, a stationary third contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment, means for adjusting the position of said rst contact arm relative to the conductive segment and the stationary contact arms, a pair of yieldable contacts, one of said contacts electrically connected with the stationary third contact arm, the second contact connected in circuit with the source oif current, a rotatable element coacting with the yieldable contacts, said jelement constructed and positioned to control engagement between said yieldable contacts by the element position, and means for rotating said disc and said element at a predetermined ratio of movement for placing the conductive segment in engagement with the contact arms at a predetermined sequence and for opening and closing said yieldable contacts at preselected intervals, thereby causing the solenoid and the ash lamp circuits to be energized at a predetermined variable time relationship to each other, as controlled by the position of the adjustable rst con-v tact arm.

4. A synchronizing device of the type described comprising 'a shaped contact member movably mounted, a contact arm for slidably engaging said contact member and connected in circuit with a iiash lamp and a source of current, a second contact arm for slidably engaging said contact member and connected in circuit with a shutter solenoid and' the source of current, a third contact arm for slidably engaging said contact member, a pair of yieldable contacts, one of said contacts electrically connected with the third contact arm, the second contact connected in circuit with the source of current, a third yieldable Contact connected in circuit with an electric lamp and the source of current, a movable element coacting with vthe yieldable contacts, said element constructed and positioned to control engagement between said yieldable contacts by the element position, and means for moving said contact member and said'element at a predetermined ratio of movement for placing the contact mem- 'ber in engagement with the contact arms at a predetermined sequence and for opening and closing said yieldable contacts at preselected intervals, so as to cause the electric lamp circuit to be closed in response to the rst part of a movement of the movable element and the solenoid and hash lamp circuits to be energized at a predetermined timerelationship to each other in response to the second part of the element movement.

5. A synchronizing device of the type described comprising an insulation disc rotatably mounted, a shaped electrically conductive segment supported on said disc, an adjustable rst contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment and connected in circuit with a flash lamp and a source of current, a stationary second contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment and connected in circuit with a shutter solenoid and the source of current, a stationary third contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment, means for adjusting the position of said first contact arm relative to the conductive segment and the stationary contact arms, a pair of yieldable contacts, one of said contacts electrically connected with the stationary third contact arm, the second contact connected in circuit with the source of current, a 'third -yi'eld- Vable contact connected in circuit "Withan `elec'zt'ric lamp and the source of current, a rotatable "element coacting with -the yieldable contacts, said delement constructed and positioned to 'control engagement between Ysaid yieldable contacts by the element position, and 'means for rotating said disc and said element at a pr'edeterriinedrate of movement for placing the conductive segment in engagement with the contact arms fat vva predetermined sequence and for opening and-closing said yieldable contacts at preselected intervals, so as to cause the electric lamp circuit to be closed in response to the rst part 'of the rotation of said element and the solenoid and hash lamp circuits to be energized at a predetermind variable time relationship to each other in response to the second part of the element rotation.

6. A synchronizing device of the type described comprising a shaped contact member movably mounted, an adjustable first contact arm for slidably engaging said contact member and connected in circuit with a flash lamp and a source of current, a stationary second arm for slidably engaging said contact member and connected in circuit with a shutter solenoid and the source of current, a stationary third contact arm for slidably engaging said contact member, means for adjusting the position of said iirst contact arm relative to the contact member and the stationary Contact arms, a pair of yieldable contacts, one of said contacts electrically connected with the stationary third contact arm, the second contact connected in circuit with the source of current, a movable element coacting with the yieldable contacts, said element constructed and positioned to control engagement between said yieldable contacts by the element position, moving means operatively coupled with the contact member and the movable element, and spring means constructed to be loaded in response to a movementof the moving means in one direction and to return the moving means into its normal position upon completion of a predetermined movement thereof into the said direction, said return movement of the moving means causing the contact member and the movable element to move at a predetermined ratio of movement for placing the contact member in engagement with the contact arms at a predetermined sequence and for open-A ing and closing said yieldable contacts at preselected intervals, thereby causing the solenoid and the ash lamp circuits to be energized at a predetermined time relationship to each other, as controlled by the position of the adjustablerst contact arm.

7. A synchronizing device of the type described comprising an insulation disc rotatably mounted, a shaped electrically conductive segment supported on said disc, an adjustable first contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment and connected in circuit with a flash lamp and a source of current, a stationary second Contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment and connected in circuit with a shutter solenoid and the source of current, a stationary third contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment, means for adjusting the position oi said rst contact arm relative to the conductive segment and the stationary contact arms, pair ci yieldable contacts, one oi said contacts electrically connected with the stationary third contact arm, the second contact connected in circuit with the source of current, a rotatable element coacting with the yieldable contacts, said 10 element "constructed and positioned toycon'trol engagement 'between said y'yreicable 'contacts by the 'element position, moving means operatively 'coupled Awith the rotatable 'element and the disc for 'rotating 'the v'same 'in a predetermined vdirection, 'and spring means associated with the rotatable "element and the disc 'and constructed to be loaded Iin i'spns'e'to'a movement of the `inovi'ng means, "said vx'r'i'civi'rig means 'constructed to diseng'a'ge themselves lfr'or'n 'the 'movable element 'and the dis'c after "completion of a r'predetermine'd the rotatable element and 'the disc into therespective initial positions thereof at a predetermined ratio of movement for placing the contact segment in engagement with the contact arms at a predetermined sequence and for opening and closing said yieldable contacts at preselected intervals, thereby causing the solenoid and flash lamp circuits to be energized at a predetermined time relationship to each other, as controlled by the position of the adjustable rst contact arm.

8. A synchronizing device as described in claim 7, wherein said yieldable contacts are constructed to engage each other when released by the rotatable element and to be dis-engaged by the rotatable element in response to rotation thereof in the predetermined direction, thereby disconnecting the circuit connections to the source of current.

9. A synchronizing device of the type described comprising an insulation disc rotatably mounted, a shaped electrically conductive segment supported on said disc, an adjustable first contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment and connected in circuit with a flash lamp and a source of current, a stationary second contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment and connected in circuit with a shutter solenoid and the source of current, a stationary third contact arm for slidably engaging said conductive segment, means for adjusting the position of said first contact arm relative to the conductive segment and the sta-V tionary contact arms, a pair of yieldable contacts, one of said contacts electrically connected with the stationary third contact arm, the second contact connected in circuit with the source of current, a third yieldable contact connected in circuit with an electric lamp and the source of current, a rotatable element coacting With the yieldable contacts, said element constructed and positioned to control engagement between said yieldable contacts by the element position, moving means operatively coupled with the rotatable element and the disc for rotating the same in a predetermined direction, and spring means associated with the rotatable element and the disc and constructed to be loaded in response to a movement of the moving means, said moving means constructed to dis-engage themselves from the movable element and the disc after completion of a predetermined movement to cause the spring means to return the rotatable element and the disc into the respective initial positions thereof at a predetermined ratio of movement for placing the contact segment in engagement with the contact arms at a predetermined sequence and for opening and closing said yieldable contacts at preselected intervals, thereby causing the solenoid and flash lamp circuits to be energized at a predetermined time relationship to each other, as controlled by the position of the adjustable first contact arm.

10. A synchronizing device as described in constructed to engage the second contact of the pair by the action of the rotatable element in response to a rotation thereof in the predetermined direction, thereby disconnecting the soienoid and ash lamp circuits to the source of 12 current and connecting the electric lamp circuit during the said rotation of therotatable element.

11. A synchronizing device as described in claim 7, wherein said conductive segment is arranged to be placed in a position disengaged from the contact arms after completion of the movement of the moving means in said predetermined direction, and wherein said conductive segment is shaped so as to engage different contact arms in different angular positions during the return rotation of the disc.

WILLIAM CASTEDELLO. 

